Disposable bedpan



March 1970 w. LAUFER ET AL 3,503,080

DISPOSABLE BEDPAN 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 15, 1968 INVENTORS m EWWW E wmw m6 @m March 31, 1970 w, LAUFER ETAL DI SPOSABLE BEDPAN 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 15, 1968 N M Q MW Mm m Wad W United StatesPatent Filed Mar. 15, 1968, Ser. No. 713,479

Int. Cl. A61g 9/00; B65d 5/40 U.S. Cl. 4-112 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE The present disclosure is directed to a device which may beentitled a disposable bedpan. The entire unit is formed of one piece ofstrong waterproof cardboard or like material. This single piece ofmaterial is laid out flat to be stacked for storage in a small space.After use, the entire unit is disposed of as by incineration. In use thestructure is that of a box-like receptacle provided with internalsupports to impart rigidity and strength. These internal supports areperipherally disposed channels. A cover or flap member opens out toexpose a main opening of conventional size and shape. In open positionthe cover member serves additionally as a guard against splashing. Toempty the pan, the cover may be entirely removed. For this purpose theupper part or deck is provided with scoring whereby the cover can beripped free from the main unit. The device being entirely disposable, nousual cleaning or autoclave operation is necessary.

In hospitals and other institutions for care of invalids and bedpatients, the use of conventional bedpans involves inconvenient, timeconsuming and unsanitary features. Storage and cleanliness are requisitefacilities for which are often diflicult to maintain.

Objects of the present invention include:

The provision of a bedpan which requires no sterilization.

The provision of such article that can be disposed of by incineration.

The provision of an article which will involve a saving of labor on thepart of hospital personnel.

The provision of an article that is adapted to be stored in a minimum ofspace.

The provision of an article of light weight to facilitate shipping andhandling.

In accordance with the present invention there is pro.- vided adisposable bedpan which is formed of a combustible material in thenature of cardboard which can be readily disposed of by incineration.Such material moreover is desirably provided with a waterproofingimpregnant or coating to prevent penetration of liquids and the leakagein use. The unit bedpan is self-sufficient in that it constitutes anintegral, one-piece structure of generally box-like or rectangular shapewhereby the entire box may be flattened for storage and transportationpurposes and stacked with occupancy of a minimum of storage space. Theparts thereof need not be assembled but are adapted to be withdrawn fromthe stack and folded into the shape of a rectangular container. Thecardboard-like material is characterized by suflicient strength such asto support the weight of the human body.

The folded and flattened unit can be bent out into a box-like structurehaving a floor or bottom, an upper portion or deck, and four verticalsides. The deck is provided with a main or seat opening and acoextensive cover or flap. The latter is in fact integral with the deck.Scored, i.e., perforated lines are provided on the deck portionoutlining the seat cover or flap and extending beyond the line definingthe front of the opening. The cover when opened, serves as a hinged topclosure, which can be opened to serve as a flap attached along a hingeline. When the cover is opened to an extent sufficient to form asubstantially upright flap forward of the seat opening, it serves as asanitary guard against splashing of the contents.

After use the scored lines extending between the forward edge of theopening and the front edge of the container permit tearing the coverforward to separate same from the main body. 'Removal of the flapfacilitates emptying of said pan. After emptying, or even before, thebedpan together with its top lip portion may be disposed of byincineration.

Whereas the foregoing description will suffice to make clear the conceptand general nature of the present inven tion, and the details thereofare set forth in the appended claims, in order to facilitate furtherunderstanding of the practice and principles of the invention, referencenow is made to illustrative drawings accompanying the specification.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a disposable bedpan of the characterinvolved with a part outlined thereon in dashed lines.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a series of bedpans according to thepresent invention in stacked formation for storing or shipping showingthe top pan in a slightly erected condition.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the disclosed disposable bedpan.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken in the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken in the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 4;and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view, on a smaller scale, of the support insertof the disposable bedpan.

In FIG. 1 the entire device set up and in use, is designated byreference numeral 11. In FIG. 2, the units 17 are unfolded, flattenedand stacked for storage and as needed. Floor 31 is covered toconsiderable extent by unfolded and flattened right support 33r and leftsupport 331 and by unfolded and flattened rear support member 21. Theinside surface of deck portion 29 is seen, with lid 15 in place. Side 1will cover the outside of side 2 (not shown in FIG. 1) the other sidesfitting over the inner sides 2, etc., in sequential order as will beunderstood by reference to FIG. 1. Other possible arrangements offolding the sheets in accordance with the invention will be understoodby those skilled in the art.

In order to aid in sustaining the weight of the body of a patient 13seated on the device, an inner support frame 23 (FIG. 7) is provided.This support means is formed generally from sheets of material angularlyfolded to form inner angular longitudinal channels which viewed in crosssection would have the shape of an inverted angular U clearly shown inFIGS. 5, 6 and 7. The rear of the container is provided with a supportmember 21 substantially square in cross section (FIGS. 4 and 7). FIG. 2shows this member 21 unfolded and flattened out.

In FIG. 3, a top view is provided showing particularly the seat cover19, the arrangement of the support members 33r and 331, the rear supportmember 21, all except 19 in folded upright position corresponding toFIG. 1. FIG. 3 shows also perforated lines 27r and 27l whereby flap 15can be separated from deck 29 for emptying.

FIG. 4 shows flap or cover 15 partially raised and moved through an areA, hinge line 25 defining the axis or pivot thereof. The position ofcover 15 shown in dashed lines indicates substantially the extent towhich lid 15 will be opened in use, serving as a shield againstsplashing or spattering of liquid contents. In FIG. 4, crosspiece 35,

which as illustrated in FIG. 7 is an integral portion joining supports33r and 331, is shown to be aflixed to floor of pan, binding same to thefloor section and serving to join all parts in one integral unit. Rearsupport portion 21 shown unfolded and flattened in FIG. 2, is shown inFIG. 4 as being adherent to and integral with floor 31.

Whereas the foregoing description is specific to a rectangularbox-likestructure it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art thatthe invention is adaptable to various conformations and dimensions.

In the claims, the following terms are used and are here defined:

Angular box-like receptacle is not limited to rectangular construction,although in the example illustrated the rectangular construction isshown and constitutes a simple and preferred embodiment.

The term scored means punctured or incised as a series of points on aline.

Reinforcing channels extended along side refers to either the inner orouter surface of contact of the receptacle walls. The illustration isconfined to inner contact, although it will be readily evident thatouter channels are possible equivalents, and covered by the scope of thephrase.

The extent of scoring of the lines 271 and 1' may be continued down tothe floor if it is desired to better break the front end opening foremptying the pan before destruction thereof.

We claim:

1. A hygienic disposable bedpan unit adapted to being stored flat in itsentirety, in a stack of like flat sheets, said bedpan being composed ofa single sheet of disposable waterproof material, each said unit havinga single main body portion adapted to being bent to form an angularbox-like receptacle and an integral strengthening structure 4 comprisingan inner frame portion adapted to being formed into reinforcing channelspositioned along a plurality of sides of said receptacle.

2. A disposable bedpan according to claim 1 wherein said reinforcingchannels extend along at least two sides of said receptacle.

3. A disposable bedpan according to claim 1 wherein said reinforcingchannels extend along at least two sides and one end of said receptacle.

4. A disposable bedpan according to claim 3 wherein the top side of saidreceptacle portion is scored to outline a main opening in saidreceptacle and an integral lid portion coextensive with said mainopening, said lid portion being adapted to be bent forward along acrease defining the forward end of said main opening.

5. A disposable bedpan according to claim 4 wherein the scoring of theoutline of the lid portion is extended from said crease at least as farforward as the line defining the forward upper edge of said receptacleportion.

6. A disposable bedpan according to claim 1 wherein said unit sheet iscomposed of incineratable material.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,998,061 4/ 1935 Wachs 41l23,160,893 12/1964 Steel et al 41l2 3,319,263 4/1967 Udden et al. 4-1123,347,445 10/1967 Wood 229-23 DAVIS T. MOORHEAD, Primary Examiner US.Cl. X.R. 229-23

